Legal Counsel

Legal Counsel – LNG LEGAL TEAM

Business Line:           Global Energy Management & Sales – Business Platform Global LNG & Biomass

Location:                   Paris / Brussels

WHO WE ARE

ENGIE Global Energy Management & Sales (“GEMS”) provides energy supply solutions and risk management services to support its clients through their decarbonization journey, while optimizing the ENGIE Group’s assets and contributing to value creation. ENGIE is a global reference in low-carbon energy and services with a leading energy management business piloted by GEMS, which built its savoir-faire managing the ENGIE Group’s large and diverse asset portfolio over 20+ years. We cover the full energy mix: renewable and thermal power, natural gas and LNG, biomass, environmental products.

As part of the GEMS Legal & Regulatory department, the LNG & Biomass Legal Team manages all legal matters relevant to GEMS’s global LNG & Biomass trading and supply business.  The business handles (i) high value long and mid-term LNG and biomass purchases and sales; (ii) spot, mid-term and long-term LNG and biomass trading; (iii) downstream-associated transactions and projects including floating terminals, gas storage and regasification facilities; and (iv) hedging derivatives and other structured products across the globe. The legal team also has a global remit, working closely with commercial colleagues and other functional partners in Paris, London, Madrid, Houston and Singapore.

Under the direction of the Team Manager and in conjunction with all levels of originators, traders and management, the Legal Counsel will provide general support in furtherance of the GEMS’s LNG business objectives.  The legal team’s work includes:  structuring, risk identification and mitigation, document review, drafting and negotiation of spot, mid-term and long-term LNG sales and purchases, LNG ship chartering, strategic joint ventures, other commercial transactions, business development and advising on disputes.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Reviewing, drafting and negotiating: master LNG sales and purchase agreements, confirmation notices issued thereunder and related ancillary transaction documentation, including freight, credit support, collateral and security agreements, LNG terminal capacity and through-put arrangements and bespoke documentation in respect of supply and services agreements etc. in relation to regasification facilities, pre-transaction documentation including pitch and marketing documents, non-disclosure agreements, MoU’s and termsheets, etc.
• Support business objectives and development, advise on legal and related issues as they arise in day-to-day trading/marketing activities, identifying and mitigating legal and regulatory risks
• Ensure that contracts reflect best practice, and GEMS policy and procedural frameworks
• Providing legal and regulatory compliance advice: related to LNG trading, LNG value chain optimisations and LNG related financial products activity
• Advising on operational and other events arising during the term of a contract including: force majeure, failure to deliver or take, off-specification LNG, ship and cargo scheduling and logistics issues, credit support, business conduct and trade compliance issues, and disputes
• Managing the above: in a timely and cost-effective manner, with support from external counsel when necessary
• Remaining current on law and regulation relevant to the LNG value chain including business conduct and financial services laws, encouraging a culture of compliance including by the development of relevant internal policies
• Working closely with other GEMS stakeholders and management on day-to-day activities and transactional, regulatory and compliance related matters/issues, and liaising with subject matter experts for tailored advice when necessary to ensure common understanding of the commercial and legal requirements of the LNG activities
• Supporting other members of the GEMS Legal Team: including through internal functional reporting, by participating in Legal Team committees and events, and by sharing knowledge and experience

WHAT YOU BRING

• Qualified in the UK or other common law jurisdiction or with proven familiarity with both (UK) common and civil law, with minimum 5+ years’ PQE experience
• Knowledge of European physical LNG markets (preferred) and familiarity with maritime and commercial/contract law (essential)
• Strong skills in review and analysis, interpretation, drafting, negotiation and administration of commercial contracts, able to clearly explain risks, advise on both commercial and associated legal consequences and exercise sound judgement on difficult issues
• Ability to build and manage relationships and work in a fast paced energy trading environment
• Proven ability to prioritize conflicting demands while paying attention to detail
• Ability to work without supervision as part of a global team, and in a multi-cultural trading environment
• Team player and effective manager of internal resources
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills
• Fluent English essential and good level of French desirable.  Additional language fluency is a plus